Beeville native competes in Spartan Race

Living a healthy lifestyle has been a code Ethan Dominguez has lived by.

The Beeville native exercises regularly and the work has paid off, shedding more than 60 pounds over six months.

But Dominguez wanted to take his healthy experience to the extreme. He along with his fiance, Maria Esparza, 28, competed in a obstacle racing course called the Spartan Race in May in Burnet

For Dominguez, a 36-year-old studying at Victoria College, it was his third time competing in this type of physical obstacle course. The course included sprinting up hills and navigating through underground tunnels. He also met with Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Johny Hendricks.

"It made me believe I can do anything," said Dominguez about the course. "I got to meet a lot of elites. I just wanted to compete at the highest level."

The Spartan race took place in Burnet. Dominguez, who plans to focus on alternative medicine as a career, said he wanted to compete again because he didn't do well when he participated in 2011. This time, he wasn't alone.

" It was awesome to know I competed with the best and competed with him," said Esparza. "I was always active in high school. I felt like (the race) gave me more self confidence."

As for Dominguez, he enjoyed competing in physical challenges so much that he will participate in another Spartan race.

"I was never much athletic when I was younger," said Dominguez. "I'm completing my childhood now."